A Confident Smile What to Do if You Have a Missing Tooth

Having a complete set of teeth is a beautiful thing. After all, you can flash your pearly whites any time of the day. However, you may not be as confident if you have a missing tooth or, worse, teeth. Now, what will you do after losing a tooth or two?

It might be challenging, but you do not have to fret! Yes, missing a tooth may affect the comfort and function of your mouth, your ability to eat, and your speech, but it is not the end of the world.

You can visit your local dentist in Ann Arbor for feasible options or continue reading this article for helpful tips you may want to think about doing.

Don’t Do Anything

Not doing anything about your situation is the least expensive and easiest option to do. You can leave the gap between your teeth alone, but this will result in unsightly holes and spaces. Worst of all, an adjacent tooth may drift into that space, leading to a more complicated dental procedure.

Consider Partial or Full Dentures

If you want to replace a missing tooth (or teeth), you can opt for partial or full dentures. Your dentist will explain that dentures are false removable teeth relatively quick and easy to make. You may choose to have a partial denture, which means only one or a few teeth are replaced, or you can choose to replace all your missing teeth.

Partial dentures hold the false teeth on a plastic or metal framework. They are removable and should fit around the adjacent teeth and may cover part of the gum tissue or roof of the mouth.

Sometimes, they may have hooks and rest to keep the framework in. Sadly, they can be visible when smiling, leaving you less confident, but they are better than having gaps between teeth. You should also remove them every night for cleaning and allow your gum to breathe. Doing this will also minimize the pressure on the anchor teeth.

Get a Dental Bridge

It would be best if you also asked your local dentist about bridges. This option uses the adjacent natural teeth to support a false tooth or teeth between them. Hence, the name.

If you prefer a dental bridge, your natural teeth might be shaved or contoured to place a crown (cap) on top. These are called abutment teeth and will support the false tooth between, called the pontic tooth. Your dentist may recommend this if the adjacent teeth require crowns for unrelated reasons, such as large fillings at risk of fracture.

Use Dental Implants

Dental implants are cylindrical and tapered posts, usually made of titanium that substitutes the tooth root. This option is often the best treatment for missing teeth because it can fuse with your natural bone and become a solid and sturdy foundation for a replacement tooth (or teeth).

You can opt for implants to replace an individual tooth or an implant-supported bridge or denture containing multiple teeth.

Conclusion

You do not have to go through life with missing teeth. Choosing among the four options will give you a boost of confidence, knowing you can flash that perfect smile again.

You do not have to look far if you want dental implants in Ann Arbor, MI. At Dental House MI, we can restore your smile with dental implants or dentures at affordable rates, so do not wait one more minute. Book an appointment now!